Hilton wants 4,000 hotels in five years time
Hilton intends to expand its 2,800 worldwide properties to more than 4,000 within five years. The expansion drive follows the reunification of the Hilton brands under one company earlier this year when Hilton in America bought out its UK counterpart, Hilton Group. Hilton wants to reach critical mass in countries where it is under-represented, such as France, Germany, eastern Europe, China, India and Australia. – Sunday Times, 9 July
New De Vere owner to sell Green’s fitness chain
Richard Balfour-Lynn, the property developer who last week won the £767m battle to acquire De Vere, the hotels and leisure group, plans to split the property assets from the operating company in a bid to release more value. Balfour-Lynn is also likely to put Greens, De Vere's stand-alone health and fitness brand, up for sale. – Sunday Telegraph, 9 July
Industrial action ballot in Irish hotel chain
Seven hundred staff at the Great Southern Hotels group in Ireland are expected to vote for an all-out strike from as early as 21 July when they ballot for industrial action this week. The dispute is over sell-off plans by the Dublin Airport Authority, the Government-controlled owner of the hotel chain. The union wants agreement over outstanding issues, including union recognition, outsourcing, pensions and redundancy packages before any sale. – Sunday Times (Irish edition only), 9 July
Balfour-Lynn to roll out De Vere’s Village concept
Malmaison-to-Hotel du Vin property magnate Richard Balfour-Lynn is planning a massive expansion of De Vere once his privately-owned Alternative Hotel Group completes its £767m purchase of the quoted hotels and leisure group. Balfour-Lynn said of the De Vere takeover: “It is our intention to roll out the Village concept, which would be very exciting. It is a combination of leisure, conferencing, pubs, restaurants and sports.” – Mail on Sunday, 9 July
Jamie Oliver wants pubs to cook school dinners
Jamie Oliver is to make a second attempt to improve school dinners by encouraging head teachers to team up with local gastropubs instead of contract caterers. He has carried out a pilot project for his idea in Lincolnshire where, in common with many other councils, the local authority has mothballed school kitchens to save money. – Sunday Times, 9 July
US investors eye up Hard Rock
The Hard Rock chain has attracted interest from US private equity firms just days after owner Rank said it might sell the business. Hard Rock is currently subject of a financial review, but any sale could fetch up to £540m. – Mail on Sunday, 9 July